Tool clamp



W. A. KELSEY- Jan. 2, 1934.

'TOOL CLAMP Filed Nov. 3, 1930 Patented Jan. 2, 1934 niNiTeesrArEsPATEN'ITl oFricE TOOL CLAMP William A. Kelsey, Minneapolis, Minn. fApplicationNovember 3, 1930.` `Serial No. 492,935

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for holding a grinding tool, though itmay be adapted for use with other tools and the particular purpose ofthe invention is to provide a means for use with a dental tool wherebythe user can easily and quickly clamp a grinding means suchV as a paperemery disk or a'rsolid 'emery or carborundum wheel and as readilyrelease the disk or wheel when the work is completed or it is desired tosubstitute another diskror wheel.

In dental tools as usually made, the clamp device for holding the paperemery disk or a suitable grinding wheel is composed of several parts orpieces which often become separated and mislaid requiring considerabletime of the dentistor other operator to assemble the parts and clamp thetool preparatory for use. Difficulty is also experienced where the clampis made in several separable pieces, by theV working loose of one ormore ofthe elements of the clamp while the tool is in use, causing delayfor the tightening or re'adjustment of the partsi' The primary object ofmy invention therefore is to provide a, clamp device for general use,but particularly adapted for dental purposes and one in which theoperating elements are inseparable and ready for immediate use to clampthe operating tool'and further, this self-contained tool clamp is madein such a way that there is no possibility of the clamping elementsworking loose and requiring tightening or adjusting when the device isin use.v j Y A further object is to provide a dental clamp of suchconstruction that the operator can manipulate the clamping elements withfthe lingers of the hand holding the toolj it being unnecesf sary to useboth hands as usuallyisthe case in;

clamps of this kind.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed-outin the claims.

In the accompanying Vdrawing forming part Y of this VspecificationFigure 1 is `a view of the tool, considerably enlarged, having a paperemery disk mounted in 'the jaws;

Figure 2 is a detail view, considerably enlarged,

* showing the jawsin .theirrelease position to jaws in their releaseposition;

allow the insertior'i'or4 removal of the disk; f

Figure V3 isa detail view also considerably enlarged, Vtaken onv asection line at right angles substantially to theV section line ofFigure 2;

V Figure 4 is atop v iew of the tool showing the Figure 5 is a detail`viewrof the middle 'portion of a paper emery diskshowing theV openingstherein to receive thel jaws; Y Y

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, showing the' positionassumed by therjaws pre- 60l paratory to clamping the disk; j v Figure'lois also'a similar view showing the jaws in their clamping position;Figure 8 is a top View showing the relative position of the jaws inclamping the disk;

Figure 9 is 4an enlarged detail YView showing the clamp adapted for usewith a solid emery or carborunduni wheel, the jaws being in theirV openposition; A 1

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the jawsY in 70'" their .closed orlocking position; and n Figure 11 is a plan View of the emery or car-g Yborundum wheel.

In the drawing, 2 represents the shank of a dental tool with theclamping means thereon considerably enlarged for clearness ofillustratiom The end of this shank is provided with stationary jaws 3.There may be any suitable` numberof these jaws fashionedin any preferredmanner, 8o but for convenience in gripping and holdinga comparativelythin paper emery disk such as is frequently'used in dental work,.Iprefer'to pro# vide the jaw with a central member 'andv four lugs.forming the `jaws Bradiating therefrom. The 7 paper disk indicatedbynumeral 4, has a central opening 5 and slots 6 extending therefrominfopposite directions and adapted to register with the.V fixed jaws 3so that when the diskiis placed over these jaws, they willy enter theslots and vpermit Y the disk to be seated on the end of the tool shank.'7 represents a movable jawhaving a series of lugsv 8 projecting upwardlytherefrom around its peripheral vupper end and adaptedY to registerwith` Ythe jaws 3 when it is Adesired to put the disk on the 95 tool orrernove'it` therefrom, and also having a rotary movement to a positionout of alignment withl the jaws 3 when it is desired to clamp lthe diskon the tool shank. The'movable jaw 'Ilias a hollow shank 9 provided withlongitudinal slots 100 10 which merge into transverse slots 11 adaptedto receive the ends of a pin l12 that is rigidly mounted in the shank 13of the stationary jaw. V These slots and the pin 12'forrn a bayonetjoint allowing a limited rotary movement of the mov-l Y l ablejaw on thestationary one and also a limited longitudinal movement. The shank 9isexteriorly threaded as at 14 and a sleeve 15 isrinteriorly.K

'threaded to engage thethreadsll andthe outer end of the sleeve 15receives a hub 16` Lformed on 110 or out of register therewith,depending upon the position of the pin in the transverse slot. At suchtime the sleeve will be in the position shown ly tapered surface of thehub 16. When, however, the movable jaw becomes locked against rotary.-movement, having reached the limit f'itsistroke on the pin, continuedrotation of the sleeve, bearing on the stop secured to the shaft willforce the movable jaw outwardly7 so that its lugs will' clamp the toolbetween them and the lugs of thevl iixed jaw; A .collarlfl is securedon'the'fshank 2`of. the tolby suitable Vmeans. and'forms' 'a seat forthe inner end of the sleeve 15. and with 'this 'sleeve' in ceritgt withthe fixed collar and in thi-eases en gagenent with the movable jaw,it'is obv usfthat when the user of, the tool rotates Vth'eslejve 15; th'movable jaw will bef projected Vor retracted, assuming of course thatthe longitudinal slotslO n osition' to 'receivethe ends gf thepin 12,`egree of movement" longitudinally o 4the nivable vjaw will 'of courseVdepend upon the length ottlji slot-:iOandthis length is determined whenthe ftoolism'ade so that the movable 'jawwill have suicient travel toclamp the diskoij-fother instriii'n'ent"al-itythatV may lbe positioned'.-for 'clamping between 'the fixed-and movable jaws. `When it--`isdesired to release the toolfthesleeve 15 will beprotated in the oppositedirection-from' that in whichlit is tur-ned to unive the jaw toitsclamping positionV and `when the movable -jawh'asf beenretaetedsuificiently to-allw the pin12 to enter thai-transverse slots11, the -user may thenv rotatev the "sleevefslightly-until the .vxed andmovable jaws'are in alignment with one another andthen the'disk mayfbeeasily removed/from the tool. This locking or releasing movement. of-thesleeve may.; be eil'ectedby-v the user with one hand, itbeingmerelynecessary to graspthe .sleeve and rotate itin one `directionto elect the locking of the disk bytheclamping operationnf. the jaws orvthe re-j leasingxbfi .the .disk by'looseningthe grip of;l theiawsthereon.

. In Eignre 9,1;have shown. theinvention. adapted fer. with allemal-#yorcarborundum; wheel-1.8

with@ bones20 and beveled.` lues. .2.1 Spacedf apartareund the opening.of the bore. 'ane'prieting inte; the Seme. These. lues .areSubstantially Wedge. Shaped., having4 conversing :faces 22- Theshankeaf. thetool has iawsa 'atthe outer .end

providedgwith beveledaces 3. These jawsare adaptedto slide. through theopenings 2 .3between the.A lugs on the emery or carborundum wheeltoallow the. insertion of the tool into, the jaws of the-shank and amovable jaw 72! has lugs, 8% between which and` the beveled faces 3yofthea jaws' 3aV and the lugsA 2 1 of the emerfyorl carboiiundurn wheellare grippe'dland, held. The movable jaw has a` hub 16a of greaterareal-than the hubl described'with reference; to the; pre.- viousfgures,and the. split endoi the sleevel 15EL hasQa greater Ybearing rsurface onthis liub and i thre`is`-sufcient friction llietween the hub and 75-the' sleeve coupled with the' friction' of the coa. cemparatitely thicknnb 19.- providedv operating threads to cause a rotary movement of thesleeve when the pin of the bayonet joint Vdescribed with reference tothe previous figures is in position to allow such limited rotarymovement. This rotary adjustment of the movable jaw will have the eiectof either placing its jaw members in alignment with those of the fixedjaw, or out of alignment therewith, depending upon whether the operatorwishes to adjust the toglior its release or locking position. Theelements of this modication in the structure of the tool' holder and theparts thereof being substantially the same as described with referenceto the in Figure 6, with its outer end grasping the slight- Veai'lierfigures in the case, I prefer to use the same reference numerals withaddition of the exponent a. In this last described form of the helder;the jaw members when in alignment, allow-the'insertion ofi. the tool,having the correspondingly shaped central opening into the holderfandwhen the tool has been properly plated, the. movable jaw 1S .firstretateld Slightly, asnrevioiisly:described, temere. the jaw bers @it etregister, and when this. dene furf ther @beraden of thesleevewepera eWit-tithe fixed Sten the.. shanlrwill cause lensitvdinal met .cf .themovable jaws-to .securely @lame 5.9911111 .elate-` .f 1 t i The@eretici-10i. the device Sherm Eisiires Sand. 1,9. is substantially the:.Same-.asfdeseribed with referente t@l the prevcils delires; inserirlecipall dferencebeine ,in the. ferm Qi .the yiawsjw adaptfthem. .ferl atcol .having- ,emparatrely think hub necessary. `for en. emersi .0rQarbgrun: dum .Wheel- .lilhere theme21. .is usedwith the cernparatively'thin paper ,dish hei/mean einem 1ro tane, the .hub .0r central.nortien's. adapted-t9 yield Slightly, underpressure oi the. jaws there@so.. that, the; dskmay. be. firmly clemped,.-and with .23. 15.0.01: .0fthswnature. it is .not necessaryA to haven. heavyhubor centrat portion.as. thestran 115 themen is; imonsiderable as camperen with. that of thethicker or heavier .emerv or .carbarnndum wheel, Hence .the modificationthat AI. have shown. in.r Figures. 9. and. 1.0, while embodying thesamepizinciple. as, theclamp. offtheearler iigimes; 120 serves.. to..adapt the. device. for use with". the. thickenheavier tool. The.sleeveas'shonznzzin Figures.,Eiland` l0 engages the collanle andiithethreads ..of. the. movable. ja'w, and as. the sleeve.` is rotated,"the., jawlis moved longitudinallyr te its.125 lockingor release:position, depending. uponzthe position of the pin 12a in the slots ofthe movable jaw. nlboth of these. forms or adaptations-of theinvention,the shaftmaybe held: by theoperator in` one 4hand and with the` fingers.of,y that 130 same.` hand the sleeve may be vrotatedte change itsposit/'ienV and-move the' locking jawv toits clamping or releasingposition, als-d'esiledaY The other hand off the merator is'V thus freeVtomanipulate the tool-itself; either toV put-it on the lshapft or removeitv therefroml Obviouslywhenithefrotating sleeve has been adjusted and=theteol clamped,V there -w'ill-r be 'no l opportunity fori-thev jawsbecoming inadvertently-f separated to rlease theftool untiltheslevehasagain been rotated .suilicientlyV so' Ithat' the pin of f the bayonetjoint is in alignmentwith thelongitud-inalportionotheslotin'fthemovablejaw I It will be understood'jthjat this j'device is capable 145 0fvario'l'ls' medeetions'suehias Changes-'inthe Shane pqstdlanslnumber.@the hiss. @Om risinthejxed andinovableiaws and'yheliee f htq. beconfined'to thedetails ofcxonstrncmit W1.. tion Vherein shown'jandjdescribed.

claim as my invention: 1. A tool of the class described, comprising ashank, a fixed jaw on the end thereof, a movable jaw adapted to slide onsaid shank and provided with a bayonet joint connection with said shankwhereby said movable jaw may be rotated a limited distance to registerwith said fixed jaw and allow the insertion of a tool between said jawsor its removal therefrom, and a longitudinal movement of said movablejaw when out of register with said fixed jaw to clamp the tool betweenthem and means` having a threaded connectionV with said movable jaw foradjusting it longitudinally through said bayonet joint connection.

2. A device'of the class described, comprising a shank having a fixedjaw thereon adapted to enter a central opening provided in a disk-liketool, a movable jaw, a sleeve encircling said movable jaw and having athreaded connection and frictional contact therewith, a stop on saidshank against which said sleeve normally abuts and said movable jaw andsaid shank having means whereby said movable jaw has a limited rotarymovement through its frictional engagement with said sleeve to adjustsaid jaw into or out of alignment with said fixed jaw and a longitudinalmovement through said threaded connection and the engagement of saidsleeve with said stop to clamp a tool between said movable and fixedjaws when out or" alignment.

3. A tool clamp composed of inseparable parts consisting of a shank anda fixed jaw thereon composed of a plurality of radial lugs, a movablejaw on said shank having radial lugs adapted to be moved into or out ofregister with the lugs of said xed jaw, a sleeve having frictionalengagement with said movable jaw for imparting a rotary movement theretowhen said sleeve is rotated and also having a threaded connection withsaid sleeve, a collar permanently holding said jaws and sleeve in theirrelative operative position and abutting said sleeve to impart throughsaid threaded connection a longitudinal movement to said movable jawwhen said sleeve is rotated to clamp the tool between the lugs of saidjaws.

4. A dental tool holder comprising a shank having iixed jaws radiatingtherefrom, a fixed stop on said shank, a movable jaw disposed betweensaid xed jaw and said stop and also'having radial members adapted toregister with the members of said xed jaw to receive the tool to beclamped or move out of register with the members Vof the fixed jawpreparatory to clampingu the tool, a sleeve having a threaded engagementwith said movable jaw andabutting said xed stop and means whereby saidsleeve may be `rotated to adjust said movable jaw in a releasingposition or where it may be moved lengthwiseY by the continued rotationof said sleeve'to clamp the tool between said lixed and movable jaws.

V5. A device of the class described comprising a shank having a fixedjaw thereon, a movable jaw on said shank having a hub and a rotary andlongitudinal movement, a stop on' saidlshank, a sleeve abutting saidstop and having a portion encircling said hub and in frictionalengagement therewith whereby rotation of saidvsleeve will through saidfrictional engagement impart a rotary movement toV said movable jaw andadjust it into and out of register with said `xed jaw, said movable jawand said sleeve having means for moving said movable jaw longitudinallyon said shank to its clamping position.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a shank having a xed jawthereon adaptedV to enter a central opening provided in a disk-liketool, a movable jaw having a hub thereon and externally threaded, asleeve encircling said movable jaw and having an end portion infrictional engagement with said hub and internally threaded to engagethe threads of said movable jaw,

a stop on said shank against which said sleevel tween said movable andfixed jaws when they are out of alignment.

7. A mandrel comprising a shank having a fixed jaw thereon composed of aplurality of radial lugs, a movable jaw on said shank having radial lugsadapted to be moved into or out of register with the lugs of said fixedjaw, and means on its initial rotary movement for adjusting saidmovablerjaw out of register with said fixed jaw, and subsequently duringcontinued rotation of said means adjusting said movable jaw lengthwiseof said shank to clamp a tool between said xed and movable jaws. Y Y

8. A mandrel comprising a shank having a fixed jaw thereon, a stop onsaid shank, a movable jaw disposed between said fixed jaw and said stopand adapted to register with said xed jaw to receive a tool, or move outof register with said iixed jaw preparatory to lengthwise movement onsaid shank toclamp a tool, a sleeve abutting said stop and means on theinitial movement of said sleeve to adjust said movablejaw out of reg- Yf ister with said xed jaw, and by subsequent mov'efixed and movablejaws.

` WILLIAM A. KELSEY.

